Seventeen patients in ten hospitals had cutaneous infections caused by Rhizopus

Question

Seventeen patients in ten hospitals had cutaneous infections caused by Rhizopus species. In all 17 patients, Elastoplast bandages were placed over sterile gauze pads to cover wounds. Fourteen of the patients had surgical wounds, two had venous line insertion sites, and one, a bite wound. Lesions present when the bandages were removed ranged from vesiculopustular eruptions to ulcerations and skin necrosis requiring debridement. Questions: 1. How did the wound most likely get contaminated? 2. How can this type of infection best be prevented? 3. Is the risk of this type of infection high?

Explanation / Answer

1. How did the wound most likely get contaminated?

The patients all of them got the infection means might be because of hospital equipment or devises.

Because of low moisture conditions, saprophytic fungi Rhizopus might have contaminated the bandages and it is fatal.

2. How can this type of infection best be prevented?

It is important to maintain hygienic conditions in the hospitals. Equipment sterilization, sanitation of hospital premises, through hand washing and use of alcohol rubs is essential during the bandage of the wounds.

3. Is the risk of this type of infection high?

These types of infections are known as hospital acquired infection or nosocomial infection.

The risk is very high and the attack of Rhizopus is fatal as it attacks the blood vessels and spreads across the body including the brain and the lungs.

These infections even cannot controlled by antibiotics.

They possess high antibiotic resistance and become gram negative bacteria and spread the disease to outdoor patients.

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